13 Mar 2024

Mushrooms

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Mushrooms truly are magic and I use our mushroom stock or umami broth in pretty much every meal I cook at home. Not only are mushrooms really delicious but they are packed full of essential nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and bioactive compounds (1).

Mushrooms have been used for in traditional medicine for centuries but it’s only now that modern medicine is discovering the therapeutic potential of mushrooms in areas such as immune modulation, anti-inflammatory effect – they even have potential anticancer properties.

Our mushroom stock has both Swiss brown and shiitake mushrooms and our umami broth includes Swiss brown and shiitake mushrooms, Lion’s Mane extract, Turkey Tail extract and kelp. All of these ingredients have different, powerful health-giving properties.

Swiss brown mushrooms have one of the highest antioxidant levels of any mushroom while Shiitake mushrooms are rich in beta-glucans and have been studied for their antioxidant, antiviral and immune-boosting effects (2). Antioxidants are compounds that neutralize harmful free radicals in the body. This has the effect of reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, beta-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance. The antioxidants in mushrooms, such as ergothioneine and glutathione, makes them valuable in the fight against chronic diseases and aging (3).

Turkey Tail is rich in beta-glucans and has powerful immune-enhancing properties. Beta-glucans are bioactive compounds that enhance the immune system. Regular consumption of Turkey Tail extract – by using our broth – may help fortify your body’s defences and reduce infection risk (4).

Lion’s Mane has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of various serious diseases such as cancer, depression, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases (5). It has also been used to treat Alzheimer’s disease (6).

Mushrooms contain high quantities of both medicinal and prebiotic fibre and Kelp is also rich in fibre and micronutrients (7). Another health benefit of mushrooms comes from their mineral content, particularly selenium and copper. Selenium is a potent antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage and supports the immune system, while copper plays a crucial role in the formation of red blood cells and the maintenance of a healthy heart (8).

What else can these amazing mushrooms do? Well, as I mentioned above, they are anti-inflammatories and the Immune System blog is all about how important it is to reduce chronic inflammation in our bodies. Mushrooms are rich in a variety of anti-inflammatory components, such as polysaccharides, phenolic and indolic compounds, mycosteroids, fatty acids, carotenoids, vitamins and biometals. Metabolites from mushrooms can also possess antioxidant, anticancer and, of course, anti-inflammatory properties (9).

When writing about how incredible mushrooms are it’s hard to know where to stop! In addition to everything I’ve already written they are a good source of carbohydrates, mainly chitin that acts as a dietary fibre. Because they contain essential amino acids they are a good protein alternative to animal products. On top of all this goodness, they are low in calories, because they are low in fat content, yet they are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that help regulate our cellular processes (9).
Truly amazing!

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